Rahhal allows Dubai lad to shine in Kerala
dubai — A Dubai-based student has become the youngest in Kerala to have a double century under his belt, thanks to an initiative that allows him to study part-time. Dubai’s Rahhal project lets Varun Nayanar, 16, take months off from school so he can train and compete in international tournaments.
The GEMS Modern Academy student dreams of becoming a professional cricketer. “My school is very supportive in terms of missing classes and helping me catch up. I travel a lot around the year and miss two to three months of school at a stretch. When I come back, my teachers help me catch up on the missed lessons,” Nayanar told Khaleej
It’s not just Nayanar’s sports dreams that are coming true. Several other students in Dubai, who are part of the Rahhal project, miss a number of school months consecutively while they compete in international tournaments.
A student at the Indian High School, Tanisha Crasto, is India’s number one badminton player in under-17 doubles. School, however, is not a worry for Crasto as the Rahhal project allows her to catch up on her studies.
Another Rahhal student, Tanish George Mathew, has been developing his swimming career. He’s hoping to compete in Japan 2020 Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in 2022 — and win the gold medal in swimming at 2024 Olympics in Paris. Students interested in pursuing professions other than sports have also become part of Rahhal. One Emirati family is homeschooling their four children in hopes of broadening their learning opportunities.
At the Indian High School, nearly 1,500 students in the senior grades are now allowed to attend classes only 3.5 days a week and spend the remaining time developing their talents.
The KHDA has also issued a licence to the UAE’s first virtual school, which is now accepting students.